36 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



lined with vegetable down and a few feathers. An 

 instance is on record where a piece of white sail-cloth 

 was inserted amongst the lining material. Curiously 

 enough these warmer nests are recorded from the 

 valley of the Danube and Northern Spain, and not from 

 the cooler portions of the range of this species. The 

 bird is a close sitter and undemonstrative. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Short-toed Lark are four or five in 

 number, but it is said three are occasionally found. 

 They are yellowish-white in ground colour, freckled with 

 grayish-brown, and with underlying markings of lilac- 

 gray. As a rule the profusion of the spotting almost 

 obliterates the ground colour, but there are types in 

 which the markings are somewhat scattered. Occasion- 

 ally the markings are intensified, and form a zone round 

 the larger end of the ^gg : they vary considerably in 

 size. Average measurement, 78 inch in length by "57 

 inch in breadth. Incubation is performed by the female, 

 but the duration of the period is unknown. 



Diagnostic characters : The comparatively small 

 size and yellowish tinge serve to distinguish the eggs of 

 the Short-toed Lark from other British species, but no 

 character is known by which they may be separated 

 from those of various closely allied species and races. 



